Adams created Sporting Chance in 2000 after his own experiences with alcohol addiction and recovery.
The charity has since grown to provide mental health, emotional wellbeing and addiction support to current and former professional sportspeople.
Now, Sporting Chance is partnering with Loughborough University’s School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences (SSEHS) to establish the Sporting Chance Research Hub, supported by The Players’ Foundation.
The initiative was launched today (Oct 1) at the Sporting Chance Summit, held at York Racecourse.
The Hub will bring together Sporting Chance’s 26 years of clinical experience with Loughborough’s academic expertise to investigate pressing questions surrounding athlete mental health and turn research into practical support.
It aims to bridge a longstanding gap between academic research and the realities of professional sport, ensuring evidence reaches the players, clubs, coaches and practitioners who can use it.
Founder Tony Adams MBE (pictured) said: “I could not be prouder of Sporting Chance… it started with an idea and many questions.
“Today it is a world-leading provider of emotional and mental health support to sports people.
“The more we can encourage ideas to be explored and questions to be answered, the better.
“I fully support the Charity’s partnership and initiative with Loughborough University.”
The Hub will conduct research with Loughborough, provide appropriately managed access to current and former players for approved studies, monitor international research and translate findings into practical guidance.
Dr Carolyn Plateau, Reader in Applied Psychology, said: “Sporting Chance are a very forward-thinking organisation and their values align very clearly with our own around the need for evidence-based practice.
“We look forward to working with Sporting Chance and their partners in developing and delivering high-quality research via the new Sporting Chance Research Hub, to enhance and extend mental health support provision available to the current and former elite athlete community.”
Dr Jamie Barker, also of SSEHS, added: “We are extremely excited about this new partnership between Loughborough University and Sporting Chance.
“Indeed, such a collaboration enables Loughborough University to share their world-leading research around athlete mental health with one of the leading mental health providers in the UK sport landscape.
“Our Memorandum of Understand (MOU) with Sporting Chance reflects our shared vision and mission to support and protect elite athlete mental health and wellbeing.”
Originally focused on addiction treatment, the charity has expanded its work to include a nationwide network of therapists, education and wider emotional and mental health support.
Its vision is to ensure that whenever a sportsperson has the courage to ask for help, there is a professional, safe and confidential place for them to turn.
Sporting Chance CEO Colin Bland said: "Sporting Chance is delighted to be partnering with Loughborough University on what I believe to be a unique and exciting project.
“We provide emotional and mental health treatment and education services to sportspeople, and I firmly believe good practice is rooted in good research. Knowing 'what works' and 'why' comes from studying others' practice and research.
“I feel confident saying we have a wealth of practical expertise and are world leaders in supporting sportspeople.
“Loughborough University is one of the world's leading academic institutions in the sporting landscape, and a natural partner for our vision.”
ENDS
